University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Akinniyi and Zuazua Selected to 2018 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's All-South Region Teams
11/28/2018 3:01:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Akinniyi and Zuazua became the first Southern Miss women’s soccer players to earn All-South Region honors
LINK: 2018 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's All-South Region Teams
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Senior defender Ola Akinniyi and sophomore midfielder Miah Zuazua were selected to the 2018 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's All-South Region Teams the United Soccer Coaches organization announced. The teams are voted on by coaches in each respective region who are United Soccer Coaches members and the United Soccer Coaches committee. Akinniyi and Zuazua are the first players in the history of the Southern Miss women's soccer program to ever earn NCAA Division I All-South Region honors.
Akinniyi, a native of Denton, Texas, was placed on the NCAA Division I Women's All-South Region First Team. The award adds to a long list of accomplishments for Akinniyi who is already one of the most highly decorated players in Southern Miss women's soccer history.
In 2017, Akinniyi became the first Southern Miss women's soccer player to be named to the C-USA Women's Soccer All-Conference First Team since Sarah McFadden in 2007. She also led the Golden Eagles in goals scored in 2017, scoring a total of seven goals from her defensive position. After being selected to the C-USA Women's Soccer All-Conference First Team for the second time in her career in 2018, Akinniyi became the first player in Southern Miss women's soccer history to ever earn first team honors twice. Akinniyi was also the heart of a Southern Miss backline that set a new program record for single-season shutouts after notching 11 shutouts during the 2018 season.
Akinniyi started all 20 of the Golden Eagles' matches during the 2018 season, logging a total of 1,703 minutes played. She finished the 2018 season with two goals, one assist and five points.
While Akinniyi will certainly go down as one of the best to ever wear the Black & Gold, her success doesn't stop on the pitch. In addition to her soccer skills, Akinniyi is also a gifted student, possessing an overall GPA of 3.7 in her major of architectural engineering. She has garnered many academic accolades over the course of her Southern Miss career. After the conclusion of the 2018 regular season, Akinniyi was named to C-USA's All-Academic First Team for her performance in the classroom.
Zuazua, the Golden Eagles' top goal scorer in 2018 was selected to the NCAA Division I Women's All-South Region Second Team. The Dallas, Texas native was Southern Miss' main offensive weapon throughout the 2018 season, notching a team-best, 10 goals scored, six assists and 26 points. Six of Zuazua's 10 goals scored were game-winning goals, marking the most game-winning goals scored by any C-USA women's soccer player during the 2018 season. Zuazua started 19 of the Golden Eagles' 20 matches in 2018 and competed in all 20, earning a total of 1,504 minutes of playing time.
With two years of eligibility remaining, Zuazua has already collected numerous awards during her short time with the Golden Eagles. In 2017, Zuazua was a C-USA Women's Soccer All-Freshman Team selection. Last month, Zuazua was selected to the C-USA Women's Soccer All-Conference Second Team for the first time in her career. After Southern Miss' historical postseason run in 2018, Zuazua along with fellow sophomore teammates Jenny Caracheo and Kendell Mindnich became one of just three Southern Miss women's soccer players to ever be named to C-USA's Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team.
Together, Akinniyi and Zuazua helped lead the Golden Eagles to their most successful season in the history of the program in 2018. With the outstanding play of Akinniyi and Zuazua on both ends of the field, Southern Miss finished the season with an overall record of 13-6-1 and a record of 5-4-1 in Conference USA play. The Golden Eagles' 13 wins mark the most wins ever recorded by any Southern Miss women's soccer team in a single season and their five conference wins are the most conference wins for any Southern Miss women's soccer team since 2000.
The play of Akinniyi and Zuazua throughout the 2018 season played a major role in the Golden Eagles earning their first berth in the C-USA Women's Soccer Tournament since 2007. At the tournament, both Akinniyi and Zuazua were key contributors for Southern Miss.
In the quarterfinal round of the tournament, Zuazua produced the lone goal of the match, leading Southern Miss to a 1-0 victory over No. 3 seed UAB to advance to the semifinals.
After upsetting No. 2 seed FAU in the semifinals 1-0, Southern Miss found themselves in the C-USA Women's Soccer Tournament Championship Match for the first time in school history. The Golden Eagles' victory against FAU also marked the first victory for the Southern Miss women's soccer program in the semifinal round of the C-USA Tournament. Trailing 1-0 to No. 1 seed North Texas late in regulation play of the title match, Akinniyi stepped up when her team needed her most and delivered a goal against her hometown university, tying the match 1-1.
Southern Miss Head Women's Soccer Coach Mohammed El-Zare on Akinniyi and Zuazua
"Ola and Miah have sacrificed a lot during the offseason as well as the regular season. To see them be recognized by coaches from our region is a testament to the work ethic that they have. Although these awards are based on the individual accomplishments of Ola and Miah, they also reflect the hard work of their teammates who helped put both of them in a position to have success. I am very proud of Ola, Miah and the rest of our team for all that they have accomplished."
While Akinniyi's time with the Golden Eagles has come to an end, she will leave behind a blueprint for success for the Southern Miss women's soccer program. Zuazua will return to the pitch for the Golden Eagles next season ready to continue to help lead the Golden Eagles to new heights.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Senior defender Ola Akinniyi and sophomore midfielder Miah Zuazua were selected to the 2018 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's All-South Region Teams the United Soccer Coaches organization announced. The teams are voted on by coaches in each respective region who are United Soccer Coaches members and the United Soccer Coaches committee. Akinniyi and Zuazua are the first players in the history of the Southern Miss women's soccer program to ever earn NCAA Division I All-South Region honors.
Akinniyi, a native of Denton, Texas, was placed on the NCAA Division I Women's All-South Region First Team. The award adds to a long list of accomplishments for Akinniyi who is already one of the most highly decorated players in Southern Miss women's soccer history.
In 2017, Akinniyi became the first Southern Miss women's soccer player to be named to the C-USA Women's Soccer All-Conference First Team since Sarah McFadden in 2007. She also led the Golden Eagles in goals scored in 2017, scoring a total of seven goals from her defensive position. After being selected to the C-USA Women's Soccer All-Conference First Team for the second time in her career in 2018, Akinniyi became the first player in Southern Miss women's soccer history to ever earn first team honors twice. Akinniyi was also the heart of a Southern Miss backline that set a new program record for single-season shutouts after notching 11 shutouts during the 2018 season.
Akinniyi started all 20 of the Golden Eagles' matches during the 2018 season, logging a total of 1,703 minutes played. She finished the 2018 season with two goals, one assist and five points.
While Akinniyi will certainly go down as one of the best to ever wear the Black & Gold, her success doesn't stop on the pitch. In addition to her soccer skills, Akinniyi is also a gifted student, possessing an overall GPA of 3.7 in her major of architectural engineering. She has garnered many academic accolades over the course of her Southern Miss career. After the conclusion of the 2018 regular season, Akinniyi was named to C-USA's All-Academic First Team for her performance in the classroom.
Zuazua, the Golden Eagles' top goal scorer in 2018 was selected to the NCAA Division I Women's All-South Region Second Team. The Dallas, Texas native was Southern Miss' main offensive weapon throughout the 2018 season, notching a team-best, 10 goals scored, six assists and 26 points. Six of Zuazua's 10 goals scored were game-winning goals, marking the most game-winning goals scored by any C-USA women's soccer player during the 2018 season. Zuazua started 19 of the Golden Eagles' 20 matches in 2018 and competed in all 20, earning a total of 1,504 minutes of playing time.
With two years of eligibility remaining, Zuazua has already collected numerous awards during her short time with the Golden Eagles. In 2017, Zuazua was a C-USA Women's Soccer All-Freshman Team selection. Last month, Zuazua was selected to the C-USA Women's Soccer All-Conference Second Team for the first time in her career. After Southern Miss' historical postseason run in 2018, Zuazua along with fellow sophomore teammates Jenny Caracheo and Kendell Mindnich became one of just three Southern Miss women's soccer players to ever be named to C-USA's Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team.
Together, Akinniyi and Zuazua helped lead the Golden Eagles to their most successful season in the history of the program in 2018. With the outstanding play of Akinniyi and Zuazua on both ends of the field, Southern Miss finished the season with an overall record of 13-6-1 and a record of 5-4-1 in Conference USA play. The Golden Eagles' 13 wins mark the most wins ever recorded by any Southern Miss women's soccer team in a single season and their five conference wins are the most conference wins for any Southern Miss women's soccer team since 2000.
The play of Akinniyi and Zuazua throughout the 2018 season played a major role in the Golden Eagles earning their first berth in the C-USA Women's Soccer Tournament since 2007. At the tournament, both Akinniyi and Zuazua were key contributors for Southern Miss.
In the quarterfinal round of the tournament, Zuazua produced the lone goal of the match, leading Southern Miss to a 1-0 victory over No. 3 seed UAB to advance to the semifinals.
After upsetting No. 2 seed FAU in the semifinals 1-0, Southern Miss found themselves in the C-USA Women's Soccer Tournament Championship Match for the first time in school history. The Golden Eagles' victory against FAU also marked the first victory for the Southern Miss women's soccer program in the semifinal round of the C-USA Tournament. Trailing 1-0 to No. 1 seed North Texas late in regulation play of the title match, Akinniyi stepped up when her team needed her most and delivered a goal against her hometown university, tying the match 1-1.
Southern Miss Head Women's Soccer Coach Mohammed El-Zare on Akinniyi and Zuazua
"Ola and Miah have sacrificed a lot during the offseason as well as the regular season. To see them be recognized by coaches from our region is a testament to the work ethic that they have. Although these awards are based on the individual accomplishments of Ola and Miah, they also reflect the hard work of their teammates who helped put both of them in a position to have success. I am very proud of Ola, Miah and the rest of our team for all that they have accomplished."
While Akinniyi's time with the Golden Eagles has come to an end, she will leave behind a blueprint for success for the Southern Miss women's soccer program. Zuazua will return to the pitch for the Golden Eagles next season ready to continue to help lead the Golden Eagles to new heights.
Players Mentioned
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